Strong is one of the original gym logs, and it is still a good one. Logging a set is quick, the records table shows your best weight at every rep count, the warm-up and plate calculators save maths between sets, and the Apple Watch app logs a workout with or without your iPhone. It runs on iPhone and Android, in eleven languages, with no ads.
People who leave usually aren’t unhappy with the logging. They hit one of three walls, below. Every claim about another app on this page comes from that app’s own App Store listing, website or help center, linked from our feature map.
Why people look for an alternative to Strong
The free version runs out early
Strong’s own list of what PRO adds is long: unlimited workout templates, body measurements, all of the charts, the plate calculator and the warm-up calculator. If you train from more than a handful of routines, the free app stops being enough quickly.
It logs, it doesn’t coach
Strong’s pages don’t describe generated programs, automatic progression or an AI coach. You plan the training and Strong records it, which is exactly what some people want and not what others do.
Training with friends
Strong doesn’t document a friends feed, leaderboards or competitions. If seeing what your training partners lifted keeps you showing up, you’ll need a different app for that.
5 alternatives to Strong
Splyt
A workout tracker for iPhone and Apple Watch that logs the way Strong does, with templates that update your weights from what you lifted, supersets and drop sets, and adds what Strong doesn’t document: the Watch counts your reps on its own, you can log a set by voice, an AI coach builds and schedules workouts, and you can race friends on steps, workouts, volume or sleep. It reads Strong’s CSV export directly. Free on iPhone, with Pro at $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year; the free version keeps three saved templates. iPhone and Apple Watch only.
Hevy
The closest feel to Strong. Free, no ads, with a friends feed, a library of 26 ready-made programs, and apps for iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS and the web. Hevy also imports a Strong CSV. Its program builder, Hevy Trainer, is part of Hevy Pro.
Fitbod
For when you want the app to decide the workout. Fitbod builds each session from your equipment, history and per-muscle recovery, and raises the load as you get stronger. On Apple Watch, workouts are started on the iPhone.
Gravl
An AI-built training plan with deload weeks. It estimates your one-rep max from your history and prescribes the next session. Available on iPhone and Android, with a Garmin watch app.
Motra
Watch-first. It counts reps and detects the exercise on Apple Watch, logs without the phone, and generates workouts around your recovery and sleep.
Strong and the alternatives, side by side
| Feature | Strong | Splyt | Hevy | Fitbod | Gravl | Motra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watch logging without the phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Automatic rep counting | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes |
| Voice logging | — | Yes | — | — | Partly | — |
| AI coach chat | — | Yes | — | — | — | Partly |
| Generated training program | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Competitions and challenges | — | Yes | — | — | — | — |
| Friends or followers | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| Progress photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| Import history from another app | — | Yes | Yes | — | Partly | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| No advertising | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
Each cell comes from the app’s own words, quoted and linked on the feature map, which covers 188 features across these six apps. For one pair in depth, see Strong’s page.
Moving from Strong to Splyt
Your Strong history comes with you. Splyt recognises Strong’s export by its columns, reads exports in other languages and number formats, shows you every workout before anything is saved, and lets you undo the whole import later. Importing is free.
- In Strong, export your workout data from its settings. It saves a CSV file.
- In Splyt, open the You tab and tap Import Workout Data, or share the file to Splyt.
- Review the workouts it found, then import.
Which one to pick
If you only want a faster free log with Android support, Hevy is the obvious move. If you want the app to plan for you, look at Fitbod or Gravl. If you want to keep logging your own training and add rep counting on the Watch, an AI coach and competitions with friends, try Splyt, and bring your Strong history with you.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Strong?
Hevy is free, has no ads and feels the most like Strong. Splyt is also free to download and adds Apple Watch rep counting and friend competitions; its AI coach is part of Pro.
Can I move my Strong workouts to another app?
Yes. Export a CSV from Strong’s settings. Splyt and Hevy both import it, and in Splyt you review everything before it is saved.
Is Strong still worth using?
Yes, if you want a quick, simple log that works on Android and on the Watch without your phone. Its limits are the free tier and the lack of coaching and social features.
Does Splyt work on Android?
No. Splyt is on iPhone and Apple Watch only.
More comparisons
- The best Hevy alternatives
- The best Fitbod alternatives
- Ready-made workouts to try in any app
- Splyt help center
Splyt is a workout tracker for iPhone and Apple Watch: get it free on the App Store.